Mount Royal Improvement Association ( MRIA)
Nature and Type of Records: Minutes, correspondence, newsletters,
membership
lists, financial records, flyers, legal briefs, newspaper clippings, maps,
blue prints, scrapbook.
Volume: 3 linear feet
Condition of Records: Fair to good
Inclusive Dates: 1928-1979
Administrative History and Scope Note: The Mount Royal Improvement
Association
(MRIA), a neighborhood association, lies in the Mount Royal District,
a
Baltimore City area bounded by Druid Hill Park, Eutaw Place, Dolphin Street
and Mount Royal Avenue. It was organized and incorporated in 1928 by area
residents to keep the neighborhood from declining in value. The stated
objectives of the MRIA were to maintain and improve the appearance and
values of neighborhood properties.
Before then, our records indicate, the MRIA was preceded by the Mount
Royal Protective Association. This earlier association existed at least
between 1911 and 1915, and sought to discourage individuals considered
undesirable from buying or renting property in the Mount Royal District.
The bulk of the MRIA collection pertains to the involvement of the
MRIA with the projects and policies of the Baltimore Urban Renewal and
Housing Agency (BURHA), a city agency. During the 196O's, BURMA had
included the Mount Royal District within the designated Mount Royal-
Fremont Urban Renewal Area. The MRIA became concerned with such BURHA
projects for the area as the development of a shopping area, apartment
projects, expressway construction, park development, urban beautification,
housing tnspection and zoning.
The MRIA also became involved with locally established institutions such
as the Maryland Institute, the Lyric Theatre, and area churches. It made
contact with outside community groups through representatives and took
interest
in city-wide issues. Increasingly, too, the MRIA has restricted the scope
of
its activities to an enclave within the Mount Royal District, Bolton Hill,
which has been declared an historical preservatioridistrict.
Records of the Mount Royal Improvement Association (MRIA)
The MRIA is organized through a Board of Directors; a president;:;
vice-presidents and other officials; and through committees. In 1980,
the standing committees consisteq/of Architectural Design; Historical
and Preservation; Membership; Movement Against Destruction (MAD);
Parks; Playground and Recreation; Police; Traffic, and Urban Renewal.
Important Subjects: Neighborhood association, community organization,
historical preservation district, local housing authorities, urbau
planning, urban beautification, urban renewal, mass transit, playgrounds,
road construction, site planning, neighborhood stabilization.
Important Individuals: (MRIA) presidents from 1928 to 1981 in chronological
order: William L. Marbury, Mason P. Morfit, Orris S. Byrd, Pleasonton
L.
Conquest III, John P. Mollitt, Richard N. Stein, Robert J. Theilbot,
John G, Rouse III, J. Hoult Verkerke, Alan L. Rothenberg, Mary Paulding
Martin, William Nick Hale, Mrs. Hugh MacD Martin, Brady D. Armstrong,
Armand J. Thielblot, Jr., H. Richard Piet.
The organization's website address is: www.boltonhill.org